Production of scorpion venom

The medicinal value of crab venom mainly depends on crab venom. The toxic symptoms caused by scorpion stings are also the role of scorpion venom. The toxicity of scorpion venom is similar to that of snake venom. Scorpion venom can cause poisoning in frogs, guinea pigs, rabbits and other animals. The semi-lethal dose (LD50) to mice is 1.6mg (male) and 1.4mg (female) per kg body weight. However, its toxicity was destroyed after heating to 100 ℃ for 30 minutes.

The pharmacological function of scorpion mainly depends on scorpion venom. Scorpion venom has extensive pharmacological effects on human nervous system, cardiovascular system and energy metabolism, and has a special effect on tumors, pain, thrombosis and other diseases that seriously endanger human health. Scientists in China have proved that the antiepileptic peptide in scorpion venom has anticonvulsant effect. Foreign countries have also begun to use scorpion venom to treat diseases such as tumor and heart disease. According to the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, scorpion contains protein, hyaluronidase, biogenic amine and other components, and toxins account for 60% to 70% of the total protein. Scorpion venom is very expensive in the international market, about US $1,000 per gram of dry poison. In general, 3000 scorpions can collect 1 gram of dry poison, so the economic value is considerable, but at present, a large number of @ # @ 136 scorpions are still difficult.

Production and Collection Biology of Scorpion Venom

Scorpion venom is produced by the secretion of poison sacs. The scorpion's poison sac is located at the end of the tail and is a bag structure. The scorpion's stinging needle (tail thorn) bends to the ventral side and gradually becomes sharp, the end of the needle is grayish purple-brown, and the rest of the poison capsule is yellow and orange. The venom sac is a hard body on the surface, and the organ that secretes venom is a pair of white poison glands inside. The poison sac is connected with the caudal segment by a movable joint. The poison capsule can move up and down through the contraction of a bundle of extensor and a bundle of flexors, with a range of 1800, but can not swing left and right.

Under the ordinary optical microscope, it can be seen that each of the two venom glands extends a venom tube, and there are oval holes on both sides of the proximal end of the stinging needle, which is the channel of venom outflow.

In the scorpion toxin collection period, its biological habits compared with the normal growth and development state, there will be some changes, therefore, we should pay attention to the following problems.

(l) Drug collection cycle

The cycle of collecting scorpion venom should be determined according to the process of venom secretion in scorpion venom glands and the time needed. Scorpion can be collected once in 7-10 days, but for the sake of safety, it is appropriate to collect the venom every 20 days or so, not too frequently, so as not to affect the normal growth and development of scorpions.

(2) Drug collection season

It is generally appropriate to collect poison in the season when scorpions are growing and developing vigorously. Under natural conditions, it is appropriate to collect poison from June to September, and the yield is higher; after October, the amount of drug collection decreases obviously; in winter, scorpions have entered hibernation and can not be detoxified. If the temperature is used as an index, the toxin can be collected in the range of 20-39 ℃, but not when it is lower than 15 ℃. If the natural hibernation period is broken, it is necessary to take heating measures to raise the crab. Although the crab is still growing vigorously in winter, it can still be powdered.

(3) object of drug collection

Generally, adult scorpions with normal growth and development should be selected for virus collection. Young scorpion should not collect poison, pregnant scorpion in early pregnancy can collect poison, but can not collect poison before labor. The pregnant female scorpion still gives birth normally after collecting poison, and about half of the young scorpion can get rid of the slime and climb along the female scorpion's appendage to the mother's back, but the survival rate is affected, which may be due to the lack of nutrition after collection.

(4) in general, about 3000 adult scorpions can produce 6 grams of wet poison and 1 gram of dry poison, that is, every milligram of wet poison can be processed into 0.14 milligrams 0.16 milligrams of dry poison. Each scorpion can produce about 0.34 mg of dry venom at a time, and the male scorpion is smaller than the female scorpion, and its yield is also less than that of the female scorpion.

(5) the effect of collecting poison on growth, development and reproduction.

The experimental results show that the electric shock stimulation method has little effect on the body weight of scorpion, but decreases slightly. After collecting poison, the scorpion's food intake often increases, so in order to strengthen the management after collecting poison, we should supplement more animal feed dominated by juicy molluscs.